Birth date: Oct 17, 1957 Death date: May 18, 2022
On Wednesday May 18, 2022, Van Lee Cheeseman, gardener, artist, and music lover, passed away at the age of 64. Van was born on October 17, 1957, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was adopted by Rae James Cheeseman and Rebecca Riddle Chee Read Obituary
i did not know until today that he passed on, i met him when i was 14-ish at sadlack's in 1986 this was in raleigh n.c. he was kind, sweet and generous. when i was 18, homeless and had lethal bronchitis, Van and Anne nursed me back to health ( t- rex helped a bit) i wandered a path that i shouldn't have but in the end, we did reconnect. and once again, a blessing. fare thee well my gentle giant. there is more, but that's mine. i love you, thank you.
Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world;
In the name of God the Father Almighty who created you;
In the name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you;
In the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you.
May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.
A blessing from The Book of Common Prayer
offered by Paul Burgar, PhD,
Van's brother-in-law
I met Van back in 1992. We instantly hit it off, and I would drive to Raleigh on the weekends, to hear live music and Van would let me crash at his place.
I eventually moved to Raleigh, and We were roommates from 1996-’97.
We were good friends, and Van was like the big brother I never had. We would often go see a movie at the dollar theater on Blue Ridge, and discuss the movie over coffee at Cup a Joe.
We would watch Sinfield every day in syndication, and it felt like we lived the episodes, as people like Ann Rawlings, Mike Bradley…and Grog would come over.
Like Jerry Sinefield, Van was the hub…the nucleus of his circle of friends. His personality, dry wit and sense of humor were larger than life itself.
Having Van for a roommate was like having a gourmet chef living in the house! He made exquisite dishes, like his honey ginger chicken with apples over a bed of rice. He told me his mother taught him to cook, and they were very close.
Van was in landscaping by trade, and he wasn’t simply a “grounds keeper”…he was an artist! Van loved to compose pieces of junk elements he found in that profession into art. And, his landscaping work become unique, one of a kind works of art.
When I lived in the mountains, Van and Marilyn had a place in Highlands they would come to and visit from time to time. I remember Van coming over to visit Dad in his last days, and dad loved him, and made him laugh.
Van was my “big brother”! During some really dark times in my life, he was a light. When my father passed, Van was the first one I called. When my baby sister passed earlier this year, it was Van who I called. There was comfort in him.
Van was a man of faith, very spiritual and his zeal for God was a constant in his life.
So, I suppose Van is hang out now with Ann, Mike, “Fast” Eddie…sharing recipes with his mom and I hope he’ll tell Dad and Michelle, my baby sister hi from me. And imagine him giving everyone here a big hug…that would be “so Van”.
You will by missed, my brother.
Jamie Woody
